Sydney Whalen

Ms. Sydney Whalen


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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6 November 2024 in JMIR Medical Education
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
BBBrenton T. Bicknell
Brenton T. Bicknell
DBDanner Butler
Danner Butler
SWSydney Whalen
Sydney Whalen
JRJames Ricks
James Ricks
CDCory J Dixon
Cory J Dixon
LLLisa Soleymani Lehmann
Lisa Soleymani Lehmann
Background: Recent studies, including those by the National Board of Medical Examiners, have highlighted the remarkable capabilities of recent large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT in passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). However, there is a gap in detailed analysis of LLM performance in specific medical content areas, thus limiting an assessment of their potential utility in medical education. Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the accuracy of successive ChatGPT versions (GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4 Omni) in USMLE disciplines, clinical clerkships, and the clinical skills of diagnostics and management. Methods: This study used 750 clinical vignette-based multiple-choice questions to characterize the performance of successive ChatGPT versions (ChatGPT 3.5 [GPT-3.5], ChatGPT 4 [GPT-4], and ChatGPT 4 Omni [GPT-4o]) across USMLE disciplines, clinical clerkships, and in clinical skills (diagnostics and management). Accuracy was assessed using a standardized protocol, with statistical analyses conducted to compare the models’ performances. Results: GPT-4o achieved the highest accuracy across 750 multiple-choice questions at 90.4%, outperforming GPT-4 and GPT-3.5, which scored 81.1% and 60.0%, respectively. GPT-4o’s highest performances were in social sciences (95.5%), behavioral and neuroscience (94.2%), and pharmacology (93.2%). In clinical skills, GPT-4o’s diagnostic accuracy was 92.7% and management accuracy was 88.8%, significantly higher than its predecessors. Notably, both GPT-4o and GPT-4 significantly outperformed the medical student average accuracy of 59.3% (95% CI 58.3‐60.3). Conclusions: GPT-4o’s performance in USMLE disciplines, clinical clerkships, and clinical skills indicates substantial improvements over its predecessors, suggesting significant potential for the use of this technology as an educational aid for medical students. These findings underscore the need for careful consideration when integrating LLMs into medical education, emphasizing the importance of structured curricula to guide their appropriate use and the need for ongoing critical analyses to ensure their reliability and effectiveness.

23 January 2025 in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SWSydney Whalen
Sydney Whalen
STSurbhi Trivedi
Surbhi Trivedi
JHJosi Herren
Josi Herren
KFKatherine Fuguitt
Katherine Fuguitt
JBJames T. Bui
James T. Bui
Incidental findings are unexpected, actionable discoveries made on diagnostic imaging that have significant patient care and medicolegal implications if not well managed. Despite their importance, few systems exist to manage incidental findings. The Radiology Actionable Findings Tracking (RAFT) Program was developed to improve communication of incidental findings to radiologists, providers, and their patients. The RAFT template is incorporated into the electronic medical record and discloses important information such as: Finding, Acuity, Communication Status, and General Recommendation for follow-up. This data is automatically compiled into a spreadsheet monitored by a clinical coordinator who is responsible for notifying the primary care physician or referring provider. The alert is resolved once appropriate communication is made and the recommended follow-up measures are documented. Between January 2021 and June 2023, the program has tracked the communication of 2,243 incidental findings, for an average of 75 incidental findings each month. Of those total findings, 270 findings (12 %) triggered additional protocols for provider and patient notification with subsequent follow-up. The program is effective in improving communication of incidental findings and can serve as a valuable tool for radiologists, providers, and the patients they serve.

15 July 2025 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SWSydney Whalen
Sydney Whalen
DWDavid Woodrum
David Woodrum
STScott Thompson
Scott Thompson
DADan Adamo
Dan Adamo
DLDerek Lomas
Derek Lomas
LMLance A Mynderse
Lance A Mynderse
Introduction: Ureteral stents are widely used in the specialty of urology to preserve renal function and provide ureteral patency in cases of urolithiasis, strictures, malignancy, and trauma. This paper presents a novel application of prophylactic ureteral stents deployed under MRI-guidance for ureteral protection in the setting of in-bore salvage cryoablation therapy for recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer. This is the first known case series of ureteral stent placement using near real-time MRI. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients who underwent MRI-guided ureteral stent placement prior to in-bore cryoablation therapy from 2021 to 2022. Each case was managed by an interdisciplinary team of urologists and interventional radiologists. Preoperative and postoperative data were collected for descriptive analysis. Physics safety testing was conducted on the cystoscope and viewing apparatus prior to its implementation for stent deployment. Results: A total of seven males, mean age 73.4 years (range 65–81), underwent successful prophylactic, cystoscopic MRI-guided ureteral stent placement prior to cryoablation therapy of their prostate cancer. No intraoperative complications occurred. A Grade 2 postoperative complication of pyelonephritis and gross hematuria following stent removal occurred in one case. The majority of patients were discharged the same day as their procedure. Conclusions: This case series demonstrates the feasibility of in-bore cystoscopic aided MRI guidance for ureteral stent placement. Ureteral stents can be used to increase the safety margin of complex cryoablation treatments close to the ureter. Furthermore, by following the meticulous MRI safety protocols established by MRI facility safety design guidelines, MRI conditional tools can aid therapy in the burgeoning interventional MRI space.